Chapter 48 Understanding People and Worldly Affairs

Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Understanding People and Worldly Affairs After staying with Second Master for a few days, Hu Ma gradually learned about the Cui Family’s affairs. This time, the matter concerning Grandma Cui went against a major taboo. Even the Old Clan Chief, who was usually good-natured, was uncharacteristically furious and adamantly refused to allow the Cui family’s deceased to enter the old fire pit. Firstly, he considered their evil skills harmful and believed they must be severely punished. Secondly, they had died from the backlash of these evil skills. This classified their deaths as unclean, and sending them into the old fire pit might also affect the ancestors. Even though the Cui family had many uncles and brothers, they didn’t dare to openly oppose the village on such matters. Eventually, they could only place Grandma Cui and the first four sons into thin coffins, find a few people to carry them, and bury them in the forest to settle the matter. There were many people in the Cui Clan, but they couldn’t say much about it. In fact, they even blamed that family more in their hearts. As for Hu Ma, he didn’t care much about these things, focusing only on the matter of Cui Xie’er. However, Second Master was afraid the Cui Clan people in the village would harm him, so he protected Hu Ma very well, preventing him from having a chance to act against Cui Xie’er. If he himself didn’t make a move and sent Little Hongtang instead, firstly, with the ancestors watching the village, Little Hongtang could mingle and play everywhere without concern. But if she harbored malicious intent, it might alarm the ancestors. Another point was that, although Little Hongtang was an evil spirit, her nature was pure. Hu Ma tentatively asked her if she had ever harmed anyone, and Little Hongtang admitted it quite honestly. "I did, during that time I fought with you!" This left Hu Ma a bit torn, for even if she was an evil spirit, she still looked like a little child, and he didn’t have the heart to let her get blood on her hands. But under these circumstances, how could he accomplish this task? Find Er Guotou? Hu Ma thought to himself that if he asked Er Guotou for help, he would probably agree. However, killing someone was a big deal. Even though Er Guotou was truly influential and powerful in this world, it would be quite presumptuous to ask him to help kill someone. Moreover, if Cui Xie’er was killed, Hu Ma’s debt of gratitude to him would be completely erased. He might even end up owing the man. This would be quite unwise, especially since he still had many questions for him and hadn’t yet secured the Shousui man’s dharma method. In the end, the only thing he could do was to have Little Hongtang keep an eye on Cui Xie’er’s movements. This incident with the Cui Family inadvertently heightened the tension in the village, especially for those families with children chosen to join the Red Lantern Society. Thinking that someone could harm others for such a spot made them treasure their children even more. They pressured the Old Clan Chief three times a day, eager to send their children to the Lady in the city half a month early. The Old Clan Chief, tired and annoyed, discussed with Second Master and decided on an earlier departure date. "After all, they’re leaving home and who knows when they’ll return. They should say goodbye to familiar faces and relatives..." After setting the date, Second Master then told Hu Ma, "Since your Granny passed, but the root of your Hu Family is still here, you must learn the ways of the world!" "Familiar faces and relatives?" Hu Ma listened, somewhat dazed. "Do we still have those here in the village?" "Your godmother..." Second Master said. "Your godmother almost worried herself bald over you. Now that you don’t need her, are you just going to ignore her?" "?" Hu Ma suddenly remembered he had such a relative and quickly agreed. But he obediently followed Second Master, prepared several incense sticks, a few offerings, and went into the forest to find his godmother. After attaining one Column of cultivation, he no longer needed yin qi to seal the furnace, so he had left a few incense sticks for her. By the stream, his godmother was comfortably stretching her branches, absorbing the forest’s spiritual energy. She was startled when she suddenly saw Hu Ma and Second Master approaching. "Lady Liu’er, I brought your godson to pay respects," Second Master led Hu Ma to burn incense under the willow tree. "Your godson has a bright future; he is going to worship the Red Lantern Lady." "When he returns with skills, better offerings await you..." It didn’t seem they came to cut willow branches, yet his godmother was still as vigilant as facing an enemy, not daring to be careless. Second Master had Hu Ma kowtow to his godmother, burn incense, and offer fruits and meat. After a pause, he also had him pay respects toward the forest. "After all," Second Master said, "your Granny had deep ties here in the forest. They’re all your elders, so proper rituals cannot be omitted." Hu Ma found it sensible, so Second Master removed the offerings he had just placed before his godmother and positioned them toward the forest instead. Is it really possible to act this way? Hu Ma felt a bit sorry for the godmother. He believed that Second Master, being a native, understood the forest’s rules. However, he usually didn’t encounter evil spirits, and his rough nature meant he overlooked the details. Yet, when Hu Ma faced the forest, offered three incense, and kowtowed four times, it felt as if the quiet, ethereal forest subtly came alive, though he didn’t know if it was an illusion. In the light-starved forest, fragmented shadows seemed to sway, gazing at the polite Hu Ma with what appeared to be great satisfaction. Especially, Hu Ma wasn’t sure if his eyes were playing tricks on him, but when he arose after completing the kowtows, he seemed to catch a vague glimpse of a broken stump past a few rows of trees. If the forest harbored other beings, they merely stood to the side during his kowtows, smiling at him. But that stump, and the indistinct silhouette seemingly sitting on it, was positioned directly where he kowtowed, calmly accepting his respect, its eyes also seeming to hold a hint of satisfaction. That was Granny’s acquaintance? Hu Ma’s mind recalled the first time Granny took him out of the village; they had encountered him and even paused to catch up. He also remembered that when he returned to the village with Granny, that figure had come to see them off. Now, as he was about to leave the village to learn skills, this person, like an elder, had actually come to see him. After completing the rituals, Hu Ma returned with Second Master. In the village, an ox-cart was prepared, filled with provisions and bedding. There was also something the Old Clan Chief had furtively handed to Second Master, though Hu Ma didn’t know what it was. Hu Ma, along with Zhou Datong, Li, Zhao Liang, and a few other young lads, sat cross-legged, waiting in the ox-cart. After Hu Ma placed his bedding roll onto the ox-cart, the Old Clan Chief pulled him aside for a word. "Granny is gone, and no one in your house is there to help with packing. I had Datong’s mother sew an extra coat and make a pair of cloth shoes. The provisions are all prepared." "Keep them well, and when you reach the city, you boys should look out for each other..." The Old Clan Chief was speaking from experience. Hu Ma had, after all, swung his blade thirteen times and wiped out the Cui Family. Though Hu Ma had acted defensively and was, in a sense, a victim, the incident had caused quite a stir in the village. The Old Clan Chief, while appearing muddled on the surface, understood clearly that once these boys reached the city, they would likely need Hu Ma to look out for them. He had already instructed Zhou Datong at home and now personally admonished Hu Ma. "Remember, our great village eats Blood Food. When you join the Red Lantern Society, it’s primarily to learn skills." "Face people with a smile, don’t be afraid of being pushed around, and just proceed steadily and safely." "Save your wages well. Eating and drinking a bit is fine, but you mustn’t roam recklessly in those alleyways. You’re too young to be so eager for such things. After working for a couple of years and returning to the village, there’ll be plenty of women from the surrounding ten miles and eight villages for you. You must keep an eye on them..." He rambled on and on, but Hu Ma had already heard most of it from Second Master. So he just smiled. "Old Clan Chief, please rest assured. I have it under control." The Old Clan Chief, however, truly found it difficult to be at ease. Who could have imagined it? These boys, who just last year were the two biggest troublemakers in the village, were now about to leave together to make a living. Moreover, he used to forbid his grandson from playing with that rascal from Granny’s family, fearing he’d pick up bad habits. Now, he had to swallow his pride and speak kindly to this spoiled grandson, afraid Hu Ma might refuse to help his own. Indeed, a person’s mischief should grow alongside their abilities. Not like his own grandson, who only knew how to be bad but didn’t grow much cunning. It was truly a headache. "Time to go..." Seeing the Old Clan Chief chattering nonstop, Second Master grew impatient. He called Hu Ma onto the ox-cart and then cracked the whip. The Old Clan Chief and a group of villagers stood at the village gate to see them off. Some were full of cheerful anticipation, while others cried, unwilling to part with their children. "Mom, I’m sending you back to Grandma’s house in Snake Village." Yet, no one noticed that as these youngsters followed Second Master to the city, a change was occurring at the other end of the village. Cui Xie’er, seemingly having matured overnight, was also departing. He took his now-mad mother and the last big green mule—all he had managed to protect after the Cui family’s assets were plundered. With only a meager amount of luggage, he quietly left the village, heading in a different direction. He knew of the hustle and bustle at the other end of the village, but he resisted the urge to look back. "Mom, this village doesn’t tolerate us anymore, so we won’t stay to endure their scorn either. Once we reach Grandma’s place, I’ll give the mule to Uncle and ask him to take care of you." He led the mule, walking step by step, his mother no longer able to understand his words. It was as if he were speaking to himself. "And then I’ll leave." "I must also learn skills. Once I’m proficient, I’ll seek revenge for First Uncle, Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, for my father, and my grandma." "The villagers lack integrity; they remembered none of the old ties and fed Grandma Cui to the wild dogs. My Cui family uncles also lack integrity. Among all our relatives, no one stood up for us in our adversity; they only coveted our family’s mules and horses." "As for the Hu Family, Hu Ma... once I’ve mastered my skills, I’ll make sure his family is annihilated, down to the last member..." He chattered continuously, trying to bolster his own spirits, his resentment too heavy. He blamed everyone, even forgetting he was in the forest. He also didn’t notice that the branches of the old trees around him had, at some unknown point, come to life... In Old Yin Mountain, to sever ties with the village meant almost certain death. 「Not long after.」 While sitting on the ox-cart, gradually leaving Dayang Village, Hu Ma received a message passed from Little Hongtang, feeling slightly surprised. He hadn’t expected that some matters would resolve themselves without him needing to lift a finger. The ways of people in this Old Yin Mountain were truly a deep study...